Basketball training device



sept. 7, 1965 W. H. LOGUE:A

BASKETBALL TRAINING DEVICE Filed March 1, 4lsaes INVENTOR United States Patent BASKETBALL TRAINING DEVICE William H. Logue, 323 S. BrittainSt., Shelbyville, Tenu. Filed Mar. 1, 1963, Ser. No. 262,064 7` Claims'. (6l. 273`1.5)

This invention relatesgenerally to basketballV training devices and more particularly to devices for teaching properv rebounding techniques.

A general object of the invention is to provide a new and improved basketball training device- Another object of the invent-ion is to provide a basketball training device which develops proper mental and physical habits relative to rebounding.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a basketball training device which teaches a playerto focus hisv eyes and his attention on both his hands and the ball in the act of rebounding.

And still another object of the invention is to provide a basketball training device which teaches a player to take a firm, two-handed grip ofthe ball at a position above its center. I

A further object of the invention is to provide a basketball training device which affords aU graduatedv challenge to jumping ability.

A yet further object ofthe invention isY to provide a basketball training device thatv is easy to mount and adjust.

And a yet further objectof the invention isV to provide a basketball training device that is both rugged and' versatile.

These and other objects and features of the invention will become more apparent from a consideration of the following descriptions.

The invention, both to its structure and mode of o peration, will be better understood by reference to the following disclosure and drawing forming a part thereof; where.- 1n:

FIG. 1 is a perspectivevview of a basketball goal incorporating a training device constructed in accordance with thepresent invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged elevational view in central crosssection showing the training device of FIG. 1 and' illustrating in particular the retention of a.. basketball by the ball retainer;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary, perspective view ofthe ball retainer showing extraction of the basketball by the hands of a player; and

FIG. 4 is an enlarged, fragmentary, elevational view in cross-section showing the training device.of the invention, illustrating in particular the adjustment, of the net for raising the ball retainer into closer. proximity with the rimA of the goal.

Referring now in detail to the drawing, speciiically toy FIG. 1, a basketball goal indicated generally by the numeral v is s een to be provided with a training device indicated generally by thevnumeral 12. Thegoal 10, inv conventional manner, includes a rim 14"which is. attached to a backboardV 16 by a rim support 18. Since the elements of the goal 1Q comprise no part of the present invention, they are not described indetail herein.

In accordance with theV invention, the training device 12 comprises a net arrangement 20 anda ball retainer 22. The net arrangement 20 is intended to be secured' to1 the basketball rim 14- in depending relationship and,

53,204,957 @Patented Sept. 7,V 1965 ICG additionally, is intended to be connected to the ball retainer 22 to suspend the ball retainer from the rim.

Moreover, the. net arrangement 20, in compliance with a feature of the invention, is intended to be selectively shortenable in order that the ball retainer 22 may be raised and lowered relative to the rim 14. Accordingly, the net arrangement 2li is made from a number of substantially vertical, flexible straps 24 fabricated from a tensilely strong material such as canvas or heavy cotton duck. Nylon cloth may also be used and is of special advantage in outdoor installatio-ns because of its resistance to the elements. The straps 24l are provided with'female snap fasteners 26 and cooperating male snap fasteners 28. The straps 24 are arcuately spaced to describe a conical throat; and the female snap fasteners 26 are attached to the straps 24 adjacent the opposite. ends thereof, the male snap fasteners 2S being spaced along the length of each of the straps.

Soprovided, the upper ends of the straps 24 may be folded over the rim 14 bringingthe upper female fastener 2,6 into aligned position with the uppermost of the male fasteners 28 for snapped assembly therewith whereby to secure the upper end of each strap to the rim. Similarly, the lower end of each strap may be folded over a portion of the ball retainer 22 bringing the lower female fastener into alignment with the lowermost male fastener for snapped engagementl whereby to connect the ball retainer to the net arrangement. As will be recognized, thedescribed arrangement of the straps 24 facilitates attachment ofthe training device 12 to the rim 14 and permits ready disassembly of the ball retainer 22 from the net arrangement whereby to allow the net arrangement 20 tobe used as a substitute for the conventional net of netting material in regular play.

Furthermore, the described snap connections permit either end of the strapsv to be detached and repositioned in assembly with one of the intermediate male fasteners for regulating the length of the straps and thereby the height of the ball retainer above the door of the court. Such a repositioning of the upper end of one of the strapsY 2'4 is well illustrated in FIG. 4i This adjustment in the height of the ball retainer allows a coach to increase the jumping challenge provided by the training device 12 as the average skill of his squad increases; and in addition, this adjustability allows a single unit or model to be produced for use in junior high school through college. Moreover, this adjustability in the height of the ball retainer provides a coach with means for accurately measuring the jumping ability of his players and means for precisely documenting the progress or lack thereof in the jumping skill of his team.

When the male snap fasteners 'are positioned on the straps 24 at six-inch intervals and when six of the fasteners 2Sy are provided on each of the straps 24, the ball retainer 22 may be disposed at live different heights above the floorofthe court, these height positions Varying by a three-inch interval. As will be recognized, the detachability ofthe ball retainer 22 permits the training device 12 to be mounted on a practice goal during the entire season and rebounding drills `may be initiated or terminatedmerely by attaching or removing the ball retainer.

The net arrangement 20 also includes one or more subtially horizontal straps 3U, each of which is closed upon itself to encircle the vertical straps as is well seen in FIGS. l and 2. With reference to FIG. 4, the horizontal strap 30 is seen to be provided with female snap fasteners 32 spaced at intervals along the length thereof for use in attaching the horizontal strap to each. of the vertical straps. A cooperating male fastener 34 is provided at one end of each of the straps 30 for use in closing the strap upon itself. The horizontal straps 30 tend to hold the vertical straps 24 in proper position and are readily releasable to permit shortening of the vertical straps. Advantageously, the horizontal straps 30 are connected to the outside surface of the vertical straps in order that they may not impede passage of a basketball through the net arrangement 20. Either one or two snap fasteners may be provided at each location as is desired.

Considering FIG. 3 in detail, the ball retainer 22 is seen to comprise a rigid ring throat means 36 and a number of resilient lingers 35 attached to the ring 36 at equal, arcuate intervals. The resilient lingers 38 may be attached to the ring 36 by rivets, as shown, or by other suitable means such as weldments. The ring 36 is provided with appropriate rigidity by being fabricated from cold rolled steel, and appropriate resiliency is provided in the lingers 38 by fashioning them from tempered spring steel. The ring 36 and the lingers 3S may also be made from various resinous plastic materials, yeither with or without reinforcing such as glass fibers. n order that the ring 36 may readily pass a basketball dll, the diameter of the ring is selected to be larger than the diameter of a regulation basketball. For example, a regulation basketball has a diameter of approximately nine-and-one-half inches; and in one useful embodiment, the ring 36 has been fashioned to possess an inside diameter of approximately eleven inches. In order that the lingers 38 may retain the ball 40 after it has passed through the ring 36, the free ends or tips of the lingers 38 are located on a circle of lesser diameter than that of the ring 36. For example, the tips of the fingers 38 have been usefully arranged to trace a circle of approximately eight inches in diameter. As will be recognized, the fingers 38 as well as the ball 40 respond resiliently to the application of withdrawing force on the ball during release thereof; and regulation of the force necessary to withdraw the ball may be achieved by varying the spring constant of the material for the lingers as well as by varying the cross-section of the fingers and the size of the circle traced thereby.

The resilient lingers 38 extend beneath the ring 36 in converging relationship in order to situate a retained basketball with the mid-section thereof below the ring. This permits a players hand access to the upper portion of the ball for withdrawing the same from the retainer 22. With a slight angulation of the lingers 38 and with the lingers selected to be approximately eight to eightand-one-half inches long, the ball 49 is spaced sufficiently beneath the rigid ring 36 to permit a player to reach eneath the ring and retrieve the ball, grasping the ball above its center. However, insuliicient space is afforded for insertion of the players forearm for one-handed retrieval of the ball. Thus, the retainer 22 is arranged to force a player to take a lirm two-handed grip of the ball at a position above its center for successful retrieval of the ball. Such a grip prevents an .opposing player from stealing the ball from beneath or tipping the ball out of the control of the original rebounder. Regular drills using the training device 12 foster the habit of using the described grip. The possibilty of opposing players stealing a rebound is thereby substantially eliminated.

The ring 36 and the lingers 38 have been described as being fabricated from metal, and such fabrication has proved to be of advantage. Being metal, these parts present a hazard to casually extended hands; and this hazard forces a player to focus his eyes and his attention on both his hands and the ball during the act of rebounding. This, in turn, tends to develop proper habits of mental concentration and physical coordination for successful rebounding.

Through the employment of the teaching device 12,

a basketball coach can teach proper rebounding techniques to his players without the need for close coaching surveillance since the device 12 allows retrieval of a retained basketball only upon the application of the proper rebounding techniques. Moreover, the teaching device 12 provides mute instruction, thus avoiding the need for verbal instruction and criticism by the coach. The possibility -of developing anti-coaching reaction is correspondingly eliminated to a large degree.

The specilic example herein shown and described is, of course, to be considered as being primarily illustrative. Various changes in structure will, no doubt, occur to those skilled in the art; and such changes are to be understood as forming a part of this invention insofar as they fall within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

The invention is claimed as follows:

1. A basketball training device comprising: net means adapted to be secured to a basketball rim in suspended relation therefrom and a basketball retainer connected to said net means in depending relationship, said retainer including rigid throat means having an opening suflicient to pass a regulation size basketball and `defining a base for finger means, said retainer further including resilient elongated linger means connected to said throat means to depend beneath the lower end of said net means, said linger means extending downwardly from said throat means and being laterally spaced to admit a players hands therebetween for forcible extraction of a basketball retained thereby, said finger means having portions converged inwardly of said throat means and located on a circle of lesser diameter than the diameter of a regulation size basketball, said finger means being resiliently spreadable whereby releasably to retain a regulation size basketball that has dropped through said rim and through said net means.

2. A basketball training device according to claim 1 wherein said net means includes a plurality of substantially vertical straps and means on said straps for regulating the length thereof whereby selectively to raise and lower said retainer relative to said rim and thereby provide a progressive challenge to the jumping ability of players leaping to grasp and extract a basketball held by said retainer.

3. A basketball training device according to claim 2 wherein said net means further includes at least one horizontal strap closed upon itself to encircle said vertical straps; said net means additionally including releasable fastener means cooperatively mounted on said horizontal strap and on said vertical straps for releasably connecting said horizontal strap to a medial portion of each of said vertical straps whereby said horizontal strap is made readily removable for facility in shortening said vertical straps.

4. A basketball training device according to claim 1 wherein said finger means comprise equally arcuately spaced lingers of rigid metal spring material.

5. A basketball training device according to claim 1 which further comprises means releasably connecting said retainer to said net means whereby to permit removal of the said retainer for ordinary use of the goal which includes the said rim.

6. A basketball training device comprising: a ball retainer including a rigid ring of suliicient diameter to pass a regulation size basketball and -a plurality of resilient lingers secured to said ring and extending therebeneath in laterally spaced relationship to admit a players hands therebetween for forcible extraction of a basketball retained thereby, the free ends of said lingers being located on a circle of lesser diameter than the diameter of a regulation size basketball whereby releasably to retain a basketball; and means mounting said retainer in position spaced above a basketball court.

7. A basketball training device comprising: a ball retainer including a rigid ring of sufficient diameter to pass a regulation size basketball and a plurality of resilient 5 5 fingers secured to said ring and extended therebeneath ably to retain a basketball; and means mounting said rein laterally spaced relationship `to admit a players hands tainer in position spaced above a basketball court.

therebetween for forcible extraction of a basketball retainer thereby and said fingers being disposed in converg- References Cited by the Examiner ing relationshing to retain a basketball with its mid-section 5 UNITED STATES PATENTS spaced below said ring whereby to permit a players hand 2,413,952 1/47 Chervenka 273 1.5 X access to the upper portion of said ball for withdrawing 2,579,312 12/51 Garvey 273 1 5 the same from the retainer, the free ends of said ngers 3,085,800 4/53 Holstad 273-15 being located on a circle of lesser diameter than the diameter of a regulation size baskeball whereby releasl0 RICHARD C. PINKHAM, Primary Examiner. 

6. A BASKETBALL TRAINING DEVICE COMPRISING: A BALL RETAINER INCLUDING A RIGID RING OF SUFFICIENT DIAMETER TO PASS A REGULATION SIZE BASKETBALL AND A PLURALITY OF RESILIENT FINGERS SECURED TO SAID RING AND EXTENDING THEREBENEATH IN LATERALLY SPACED RELATIONSHIP TO ADMIT A PLAYER''S HANDS THEREBETWEEN FOR FORCIBLE EXTRACTION OF A BASKETBALL RETAINED WHEREBY, THE FREE ENDS OF SAID FINGERS BEING LOCATED ON A CIRCLE OF LESSER DIAMETER THAN THE DIAMETER OF A REGULATION SIZE BASKETBALL WHEREBY RELEASABLY TO RETAIN A BASKETBALL; AND MEANS MOUNTING SAID RETAINER IN POSITION SPACED ABOVE A BASKETBALL COURT. 